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Two Examples of Indigenous Protest

Malaysia Response to Green Revolution changes Localized Everyday Acts of Resistance. Chiapas Response to long-standing land crisis NAFTA Local-National-Global Violent and Non-violent protest. Two Examples of Indigenous Protest. Zapatista Rebellion. Understanding the Moment.

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Two Examples of Indigenous Protest

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  1. Malaysia Response to Green Revolution changes Localized Everyday Acts of Resistance Chiapas Response to long-standing land crisis NAFTA Local-National-Global Violent and Non-violent protest Two Examples of Indigenous Protest

  2. Zapatista Rebellion

  3. Understanding the Moment • January 1, 1994: Mexico’s entrance into NAFTA • “NAFTA was the death certificate of the indigenous peoples of Mexico” —Sub-Commandant Marcos

  4. Why Zapata? • Emiliano Zapata • Revolution of 1910—move to reestablish communal land holding • Earlier loss of peasant land • Juaraz gives individual title to land—soon lost to peasants • Diaz (1876-1910) sells huge tracts to investors to attract capital

  5. Chiapas • Southernmost state in Mexico • Poorest State • Highest malnutrition, illiteracy rates • 20% population has no income • 40% has an income less than minimum wage • Small number of wealthy families dominate economy and politics

  6. History of Repression in Chiapas • During revolutionary era, local private armies maintained control through terror • 1916-Federal Army repelled by Chiapas militias, land reform stifled • 1993-land held by 6000; 2 million peasants • Rigid control by ruling PRI—Mayan community repeats hierarchies • Dissent suppressed by vigilantes

  7. The Crisis Intensifies • Mayan farmers resettled in deforested areas • No title to land—harassed by vigilantes • Protestants harasses by Catholic establishment • Modernization projects (dams, oil drilling) yield uneven benefits

  8. Causes of Poverty • Communally held land can be sold (Constututional Change) • NAFTA approved • Decline of agricultural subsidies for poor farmers • Need for peasant agriculture rethought as part of restructuring debt (1982) • Fertilizer subsidy removed • Coffee price supports removed

  9. Zapatista Tactics • Struggle over legitimacy—Zapatistas subvert gov’t authority by using rhetoric of the revolution • Traditional appeals • Use of technology (internet, media)

  10. Responses to the Zapatistas • Government Restraint—military response prevented by media coverage • Global financial community—Zapatatistas are a hazard to confidence in Mexican markets and must be removed • Can government financial aid reach the needy? • Danger of vigilantes—1997 massacre of 45 Zapatista sympathizers

  11. Zapatista Information • www.ezln.org • www.fzln.org.mx

  12. Malaysia Response to Green Revolution Localized action Everyday acts of resistance Chiapas Response to: Long-standing land crisis NAFTA Vigilante Local-National-Global consequences Violent and Non-Violent Two Examples of Indigenous Protest

  13. Peasant Movements Then and Now • Often resemble each other in tactics • In contemporary movements, the conditions that led to the protests were consequences of the globalization of the capitalist economy • Malaysia • Chiapas

  14. Capitalism and Crisis • Capitalism requires a society of perpetual growth • Enormous flexibility and adaptability • Far reaching consequences for patterns of social and political relations • Long-term consequences?

  15. Antisystemic Protest

  16. Began in France on Feb 24 New Republic based on universal sufferage Spread to Bavaria, Berlin, southwest Germany most of Italy, even Columbia The Revolution of 1848

  17. Understanding 1848 • Immediately successful—most governments overthrown • Within 18 months, revolution defeated and old regimes restored (except France) • Worker movements-protest oppression of labor under industrial revolution • National liberation-peripheral nations against imperialist and colonial powers • Model—French Revolution of 1789

  18. Worker Movements-How to Improve the Lives of Workers • Fight for the right to vote and form workers’ parties • Continue to work towards violent revolution • Organize unions and gain the right to strike • Nation-States of Europe and America outlawed unions and criminalized strikes

  19. Problem: The Aristocracy of Labor Two levels of labor emerge in the aftermath of 1848

  20. Nationalist Antisystemic Movements • Peripheral movements led by middle class and intelligentsia reaching out to other anticapitalist factions • By the beginning of postwar era, major objectives had been met • Incorporation of new zones • Political restructuring • Creation of new modern states

  21. 1968 • Antiwar protests in United States • DNC riots in Chicago • Kent State • Students and Workers in Paris • Student activism in Japan • Violence and Olympics in Mexico

  22. 1968 • United States war against Vietnamese nationalism • Soviet suppression of Czechoslovakia • Consequences?

  23. Where are we now? • Have the objectives of 1968 been realized? • From campus boycotts to Seattle protests • New Social Movements, World Social Forum (Porto Alegre)

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